OPRX vs MCK vs CAH vs HCAT vs HSIC

For growth investors, OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) is the stronger pick with 18.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH). McKesson Corporation (MCK) offers the better valuation at 19. 2x trailing P/E (16. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) a "Buy" — based on 15 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the cheapest at 19.

2x versus Cardinal Health, Inc. at 28. 5x. On forward P/E, OptimizeRx Corporation is actually cheaper at 6. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: McKesson Corporation wins at 0. 43x versus Henry Schein, Inc. 's 4. 20x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, McKesson Corporation (MCK) delivered a total return of +270.

4%, compared to -97. 0% for Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCK returned +339. 0% versus HCAT's -96. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

02β versus OptimizeRx Corporation's 2. 14β — meaning OPRX is approximately -13148% more volatile than MCK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 110% for McKesson Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) is pulling ahead at 18.

8% versus -1. 9% for Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: OptimizeRx Corporation grew EPS 124. 5% year-over-year, compared to -121. 7% for Health Catalyst, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, OPRX leads at 20. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) is the more profitable company, earning 4.

7% net margin versus -57. 2% for Health Catalyst, Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OPRX leads at 10. 7% versus -51. 7% for HCAT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OPRX leads at 67. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 43x versus Henry Schein, Inc. 's 4. 20x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, OptimizeRx Corporation (OPRX) trades at 6. 8x forward P/E versus 17. 1x for Cardinal Health, Inc. — 10. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OPRX: 164. 0% to $17. 00.

In this comparison, CAH (1.

1% yield), MCK (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. OPRX, HCAT, HSIC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 01), 1. 1% yield, +158. 8% 10Y return). Health Catalyst, Inc. (HCAT) carries a higher beta of 1. 93 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAH: +158. 8%, HCAT: -96. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: OPRX is a small-cap high-growth stock; MCK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CAH is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HCAT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HSIC is a small-cap quality compounder stock. CAH pays a dividend while OPRX, MCK, HCAT, HSIC do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.